EP3342738B1

EP3342738B1 - Collar retention system for packaging device for dispensing elongated flexible material

Info

Publication number: EP3342738B1
Application number: EP17210532.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Daniel Dunar; Brian Meachum
Original assignee: Ademco Inc
Current assignee: Ademco Inc
Priority date: 2016-12-28
Filing date: 2017-12-22
Publication date: 2022-04-20
Anticipated expiration: 2037-12-22
Also published as: CN108249223A; US10710835B2; US20180179016A1; CN108249223B; EP3342738A1; CA2990111A1

Description

FIELD

The present invention relates generally to packaging devices for dispensing elongated flexible material. More particularly, the present invention relates to a collar retention system that can be used in connection with a packaging device for dispensing the elongated flexible material.

BACKGROUND

Traditional payout packaging devices for elongated flexible material, such as, for example, cable, wire, rope, chain, strapping, or the like, typically employ an elongated rotatable member, such as a rigid tube or spool, around which the elongated flexible material can be wound, spooled, coiled, or wrapped. The elongated rotatable member can be suspended by stanchions or slots on either side of the elongated rotatable member, and in dispensing the elongated flexible material from such devices, a user can pull a free end of the elongated flexible material, thereby causing the elongated rotatable member to rotate and the elongated flexible material to unwind therefrom. Once a desired portion of the elongated flexible material has been unwound from the elongated rotatable member, the user can cut off a desired amount of the elongated flexible material and leave a remainder of the elongated flexible material on the elongated rotatable member for future use.
For example, each of U.S. Patent No. 9,446,928, which issued on September 20, 2016 , U.S. Patent Application No. 15/269,750, which was filed on September 19, 2016 , and U.S. Patent Application No. 15/269,683, which was filed on September 19, 2016 , is titled "Inertia Braking Payout Device and Package System" and discloses a packaging device known in the art. US216836 , which is regarded as the closest prior art, discloses a spool for winding wire comprising a body with discs having annular openings located at the end of the body.
It is known to use a friction fitted collar in connection with the elongated rotatable member as described above. For example, the friction fitted collar can define a portion of the elongated rotatable member onto which the elongated flexible material is wound. However, known friction fitted collars have a tendency to slip when the elongated flexible material wound around the elongated rotatable member exerts an outward force on the collar, for example, when the elongated rotatable member is rotated and the elongated flexible material is unwound therefrom.
In view of the above, there is a continuing, ongoing need for improved systems and methods.

SUMMARY

The present invention in it various aspects are set out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a packaging device in accordance with disclosed embodiments;
FIG. 2 is a side view of an elongated rotatable member in accordance with disclosed embodiments;
FIG. 3 is a side view of an elongated rotatable member with a primary collar and a retention collar placed thereon in accordance with disclosed embodiments;
FIG. 4 is a side view of a primary collar in accordance with disclosed embodiments;
FIG. 5 is a side view of a retention collar in accordance with disclosed embodiments; and
FIG. 6 is a side view of an elongated rotatable member with primary collars placed thereon in accordance with an example not falling under the scope of the claimed invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While this invention is susceptible of an embodiment in many different forms, specific embodiments thereof will be described herein in detail with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims. It is not intended to limit the invention to the specific illustrated embodiments.
Embodiments disclosed herein include a collar retention system that can be used in connection with a packaging device for dispensing elongated flexible material. For example, when the collar retention system disclosed herein is used in connection with the packaging device for dispensing the elongated flexible material, a position of a collar on an elongated rotatable member can be held constant throughout a usable life of the collar and the elongated rotatable member. Furthermore, when the collar retention system disclosed herein is used in connection with the packaging device for dispensing the elongated flexible material, friction against stanchions or panels forming slots from which the elongated rotatable member is suspended can be reduced.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the packaging device 10 in accordance with disclosed embodiments with exterior panels 18a-18d partially cut away to illustrate interior elements of the packaging device 10. As seen in FIG. 1, the packaging device 10 can include a carton or container 12, the elongated rotatable member 14, such as a rigid tube or spool, and a support structure 16 that includes one or more slots 24 for rotatably supporting at least a portion of the elongated rotatable member 14 within the carton or container 12. For example, the slots 24 can be spaced apart from one another and rotatably support the elongated rotatable member 14 at opposing ends so that a length of the elongated rotatable member 14 spans an interior chamber, cavity, or compartment 20 of the carton or container 12.
The carton or container 12 can include a plurality of panels 18a-18d joined together at respective end edges and corners and forming the interior chamber, cavity, or compartment 20 for storing the elongated flexible material 22, at least a portion of which can be wound around an exterior surface of the elongated rotatable member 14. At least one of the plurality of panels 18a-18d can include an opening 30 that provides an egress for the elongated flexible material 22 to exit the carton or container 12.
A lengthwise center of the elongated rotatable member 14 is thicker than lengthwise opposing ends of the elongated rotatable member 14, and FIG. 2 is a side view of the elongated rotatable member 14 with the lengthwise center thicker than the lengthwise opposing ends in accordance with disclosed embodiments. As seen in FIG. 2, the elongated rotatable member 14 includes a first tube 30 and a second tube 32. An outer diameter of the second tube 32 is larger than an outer diameter of the first tube 30, an inner diameter of the second tube 32 is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the first tube 30, the second tube 32 is shorter lengthwise than the first tube 30, and the second tube is placed and secured around the first tube 30 and centered along a length of the first tube 30. Accordingly, the second tube 32 reinforces a lengthwise center of the first tube 30, and the lengthwise center of the elongated rotatable member 14 has a higher structural integrity than a structural integrity of the lengthwise opposing ends of the elongated rotatable member 14, which can be beneficial for heavier elongated flexible material 22.
First and second primary collars 40 are be placed around respective ends of the elongated rotatable member 14 and pressed against respective edges of the thicker lengthwise center of the elongated rotatable member 14, that is, respective edges of the second tube 32. Furthermore, each of the primary collars 40 is secured in place with a respective one of first and second retention collars 42, which, in some embodiments, can be smaller in diameter than the primary collars 40. For example, FIG. 3 is a side view of the elongated rotatable member 14 with one of the primary collars 40 and one of the retention collars 42 placed thereon in accordance with disclosed embodiments.
FIG. 4 is a side view of one of the primary collars 40 in accordance with disclosed embodiments, and FIG. 5 is a side view of one of the retention collars 42 in accordance with disclosed embodiments. As seen in FIG. 4, in some embodiments, each of the primary collars 40 can include a respective disc-shaped ring with a respective center hole sized to fit around a circumference of the first tube 30 of the elongated rotatable member 14, but not big enough to fit around a circumference of the second tube 32 of the elongated rotatable member 14. As seen in FIG. 5, each of the retention collars 42 includes a respective disc-shaped ring with a respective center hole that has a diameter equal to the outer diameter of the first tube 30 of the elongated rotatable member 14. In some embodiments, an inner diameter of each of the primary collars 40 can be larger than an inner diameter of each of the retention collars 42, for example, 1-2 inches (2,54 - 5,08 cm) larger.
The thicker lengthwise center of the elongated rotatable member 14 can inhibit or prevent the primary collars 40 from being installed too far onto the elongated rotatable member 14 so as to avoid impeding loading or winding the elongated flexible material 22 on the elongated rotatable member 14. Furthermore, the retention collars 42 provide support to the primary collars 40 for resisting outward pressure thereon from the elongated flexible material 22 wound on the elongated rotatable member 14 and inhibit or prevent the primary collars 40 from shifting lengthwise along the elongated rotatable member 14 and towards the lengthwise opposing ends thereof.
Each of the retention collars comprises a retention ring. Each of the primary collars 40 is secured in place with a respective one of first and second retention rings, which, in some embodiments, can be smaller in diameter than the primary collars 40. The retention rings are secured in place with friction.. Regardless of the embodiment, it is to be understood that the retention rings can provide the support to the primary collars 40 for resisting the outward pressure thereon from the elongated flexible material 22 wound on the elongated rotatable member 14.
By using friction to secure the retention rings in place, a respective center hole of each of the retention rings can be sized so that each of the retention rings fits snugly around the elongated rotatable member 14 to prevent outward movement of the primary collars 40.
In an example not falling under the scope of the claimed invention, the lengthwise center of the elongated rotatable member 14 can be thinner than the lengthwise opposing ends of the elongated rotatable member 14, and in this example, the first and second primary collars 40 can be placed around the lengthwise center of the elongated rotatable member 14. FIG. 6 is a side view of the elongated rotatable member 14 with the lengthwise center thinner than the lengthwise opposing ends and with each of the primary collars 40 placed around the lengthwise center thereof. When the outward pressure from the elongated flexible material wound on the elongated rotatable member 14 is applied to the primary collars 40, the primary collars 40 can press against respective interior edges of the thicker lengthwise opposing ends of the elongated rotatable member 14, and those respective interior edges can provide the support to the primary collars 40 to prevent the primary collars 40 from shifting lengthwise too far away from the lengthwise center of the elongated rotatable member 14.
In some embodiments, one or more of the primary collars 40, and the retention collars 42(the retention rings) as disclosed herein can be coated with a material suitable for reducing friction against the stanchions or the panels 18a-18d forming the slots 24 from which the elongated rotatable member 14 is suspended. Furthermore, in embodiments that include the retention collars 42 (the retention rings) that are smaller than the primary collars 40 on the elongated rotatable member 14, the retention collars 42 (the retention rings) can act as a spacer between the primary collars 40 and the stanchions or the panels 18a-18d forming the slots 24 from which the elongated rotatable member 14 is suspended, thereby reducing contact area between the primary collars 40 and the stanchions or the panels 18a-18d forming the slots 24 from which the elongated rotatable member 14 is suspended, which can further reduce friction.
Although a few embodiments have been described in detail above, other modifications are possible. As other embodiments may be within the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

A system comprising:
an elongated rotatable member (14) for receiving elongated flexible material (22) wound around the elongated rotatable member (14) and for dispensing the elongated flexible material (22) therefrom by rotating, wherein the elongated rotatable member (14) includes a first tube (30) and a second tube (32);

a first primary collar (40) located around the first tube (30) proximate to a first lengthwise opposing end of the elongated rotatable member (14) and pressed against a first edge of the second tube (32);

a second primary collar (40) located around the first tube (30) proximate to a second lengthwise opposing end of the elongated rotatable member (14) and pressed against a second edge of the second tube (32), wherein the first and second primary collars (40) define a lengthwise center of the elongated rotatable member (14) onto which the elongated flexible material (22) is wound, and wherein the first and second primary collars (40) resist outward pressure thereon from the elongated flexible material (22);

a first retention ring (42) located around the first tube (30) proximate to the first lengthwise opposing end of the elongated rotatable member (14); and

a second retention ring (42) located around the first tube (30) proximate to the second lengthwise opposing end of the elongated rotatable member (14);

an inner diameter of the second tube (32) is equal to an outer diameter of the first tube (30), the second tube (32) is shorter lengthwise than the first tube (30), the second tube (32) is placed and secured around the first tube (30), and the second tube (32) is centered along a length of the first tube (30) whereby the second tube (32) reinforces the lengthwise center of the first tube (30) and whereby the lengthwise center of the elongated rotatable member (14) has a higher structural integrity than a structural integrity of the first and second lengthwise opposing ends of the elongated rotatable member (14);

characterized in that:
the first retention ring is secured in place with friction around the first tube (30) to secure the first primary collar (40) in place against the first edge of the second tube (32) for resisting the outward pressure thereon from the elongated flexible material (22) and prevent the first primary collar (40) from shifting lengthwise along the elongated rotatable member (14) towards the first lengthwise opposing end of the elongated rotatable member (14); and

the second retention ring (42) is secured in place with friction around the first tube (30) to secure the second primary collar (40) in place against the second edge of the second tube (32) for resisting the outward pressure thereon from the elongated flexible material (22) and prevent the second primary collar (40) from shifting lengthwise along the elongated rotatable member (14) towards the second lengthwise opposing end of the elongated rotatable member (14).
The system of claim 1 wherein a respective diameter of a respective center hole of each of the first and second retention rings (42) is equal to an outer diameter of the first tube (30).
The system of claim 1 wherein one or more of the first and second primary collars (40) and the first and second retention rings (42) is coated with friction-reducing material.